By Gabriel Kim Leal
(May 8, 2025) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday said it rejected the request of the European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) to enter voting precincts on election day on Monday.
On Wednesday, EU-EOM chief observer Marta Temido said their observers were scheduled to be deployed to various polling precincts nationwide. Comelec chairperson George Garcia, however, stressed that allowing them inside voting precincts would violate the 1987 Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code.
“Wala nang ibang pinapayagan na makapasok sa loob ng presinto, lalong lalo na ‘yung para kausapin ang electoral board members. Kahit nga tauhan ng Comelec, hindi basta-basta puwedeng pumasok,” said Garcia. “We don’t want to influence what is happening inside the precinct.”
He noted that around 200 observers from EU-EOM had arrived in the Philippines to monitor the electoral process.
The Omnibus Election Code only permits voters, electoral board members, election watchers from citizens’ arms, authorized majority and minority parties, and Comelec support staff inside polling precincts.
“I clearly emphasized that to them (EU-EOM). Kung pumasok kayo nang walang pahintulot o kahit may pahintulot, labag naman sa batas,” added Garica. “Kung bibigyan namin kayo ng permiso, sabi natin sa kanila, that is impeachable.”
He said the EU-EOM argued that denying its observers access could violate international standards for observation missions.
Still, Garcia maintained that national laws must take precedence.
“The Comelec will always implement and stand firm on the implementation of our laws. Siguro naman, maliwanag na maliwanag, between their own laws or guidelines, Philippine laws must always prevail,” said Garcia.
The EU-EOM observers are in the country at the invitation of the government.
They arrived in Manila in March and have been deployed across all 17 regions nationwide.
(With reports from JC Cosico, News5)
(PM)
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